Duration: 14 Nights / 15 Days
Destinations : Delhi, Jaipur, Ranthambhore, Fatehpursikri, Agra, Gwalior, Orchha, Khajuraho, Varanasi & Sarnath
Day 01: Arrive Delhi by flight
On your arrival at Delhi International Airport, you will be greeted by our representative who will assist you to transfer to your Hotel. (Hotel check – in time 12:00 Noon)
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 02: Delhi
After breakfast, proceed for Full day sight-seeing tour of Old and New Delhi. Old Delhi – Former centre Mughal Power, old Delhi offers ancient monuments, narrow streets and bustling bazaars. Drive past the Red Fort built in 1648, visit the Jama Masjid, the greatest mosque in India and completed in 1658 by Shah Jahan, and the Raj Ghat, the simple memorial to (Mahatma Gandhi)
In Afternoon you will taken for a sightseeing tour of New Delhi – drive past the stately government building of the British Era designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and drive pass India Gate and President House and Continue onto the Tallest Tower, Qutab Minar built by First Muslim ruler Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at Hotel in Delhi.
Day 03: Delhi/ Jaipur (265 kms)
Morning breakfast at hotel and 0800 hrs drive to Jaipur – The picturesque capital of Rajasthan, built by the warrior-astronomer Raja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727, it is full of formidable Forts, enchanting Palaces and lovely temples.
Jaipur - The origins of the beautiful city of Jaipur can be traced back to the eighteenth century, during the reign of Jai Singh II who ascended the Amber throne in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes the spirit of Rajputana. In-spite of growing into a bustling metropolis, it still retains its character and history - A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity. Popularly known as the Pink City because of the extensive use of the locally abundant pink plastered stone, painted so in honor of the visit of the royal consort of Queen Victoria. Jaipur thrills the soul with its massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite temples and lush gardens.
Upon arrival check in at hotel and rest of the day free at leisure
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 04: Jaipur
Morning breakfast at hotel and at 0800 hrs proceed to city tour of Jaipur.
Amber Fort Palace - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Enjoy ride the hill on the back of decorated elephant ascent to the fort and feel like Maharaja. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate expression.
City Palace - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum. Complex which houses the rare and rich collection of ornaments, arms, royal costumes, carpets and decorative art objects of traditional Rajasthani and Mughal art and architecture
Jantar Mantar - An 18th century Observatory. This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
Hawa Mahal - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Its five-storey structure of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women.
Visit a rug factory and see the ladies at the intricate work or a gem factory and see the gem cutting and polishing process. Also visit Birla Temple. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 05: Jaipur/ Ranthambore (180 kms)
Morning breakfast at hotel and 0900 hrs drive to Ranthambhore, The Park covers a huge area of 400 kms of dry deciduous forest and has three lakes – Rajbaug, Padam and Malik and the fort at the entrance. The town gets its name from two hill ranges, “Ranas” and “Thambore” which meet there. The main tourists' attraction here is the royal Bengal tiger. The area of Ranthambhore Park hosts 30-32 tigers, showing a healthy ecosystem. For a relatively small area, the park has a rich diversity of fauna and flora - species list includes 300 trees, 50 aquatic plants, and 272 birds, 12 reptiles including the Marsh Crocodile & amphibians and 30 mammals. It includes around a thousand chitals, 800 neelgais, a rattle and a sloth bear, many sambars, few chinkaras, blackbuck and many crocodiles & python. It houses birds like cormorants, miniwets, darters, drongos lapwings, anoles, cormorants, kingfishers, stone curlews and eagles & thousands of peacocks and peahens. The landscape is dotted with ancient Banyan Trees, Dhok & Pipal trees. The forest is typically dry deciduous type, with Dhok, being the most prominent tree.
Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at your hotel.
Day 06: Ranthambore
0630 hrs: Early Morning Game Drive.
Early morning Game Drive in Canter (Open Bus into the Park where your naturalist will talk to you about the wildlife found in this Park. Ranthambhore National Park is probably the best place in the world to see wild tigers and is the only dry deciduous tiger habitat in the world. In game drive your naturalist will help you explore the park in the search of the Royal Bengal Tiger.
1000 hrs: Return to the Hotel.
1030 hrs; Breakfast
1330 hrs; Lunch
1430hrs: Evening Game Drive
Evening one more game drive in Canter into the Park where your naturalist will talk to you about the wildlife found in this Park. And if you are lucky you will spot the tiger.
1800 hrs: Return to the Hotel.
Evening join cultural program in the hotel followed by dinner. Overnight stay at your hotel.
Day 07: Ranthambore/ Fatehpursikri/Agra (280 Kms)
Morning breakfast at hotel and 0800 hrs drive to Agra - The Royal seat and capital of the province of yesteryears, Agra the City of Mughals.
En Route Fatehpur Sikri - The city of victory beautifully preserved. The sandstone mansions of Sikri are experiments in art and architecture and to a great extent uphold Akbar's ideals and visions. The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins" are in pristine condition.... it's not hard to imagine what the court life must have been like in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.
Agra - Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously. A walk down the narrow bustling streets of the city will introduce the visitor to the wafting aroma of Mughlai Cuisine.
Thereafter continue drive to Agra. Upon arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 08: Agra
Morning breakfast at hotel and 0900 hrs leave for full day city tour of Agra.
Taj Mahal - One of the seven wonder of the world. A pristine monument of undying love. Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder, which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from it's stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen.
Agra Fort - The first of the great mughal buildings where three Mughal emperor left there foot prints. Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction.
Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 09: Agra/ Gwalior (120 kms)
Morning breakfast at hotel and 0900 hrs drive to Gwalior.
Gwalior - Gwalior is a small city located in the Centre of India in the state of Madhya Pradesh and the foundation of the city can be traced to 8thCentury AD. The city was ruled by various dynasties and is renowned to have warrior kings, musicians and great saints. It was also eminent place during the fight for our Independence and was a hotbed of planning during the First uprising by Indians against British in 1857 for the freedom fighters Tatya tope and the Queen of Jhansi Rani Laksmi Bai; the city also has memorials in memory of them
Upon arrival check in at hotel.
Afternoon leave for visit the Fort complex Man Mandir and the Sas-bahu Temple. One can have a nice view of the whole town from the Walls of the fort. On our way down we walk to the bus and visit the famous stone cut sculptures of Lord Mahaveer.
Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 10: Gwalior/ Orchha (125 kms)
Morning breakfast at hotel and 0900 hrs drive to Orchha.
Orchha is a town in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh state, India. The town was established by Rudra Pratap Singh some time after 1501, as the seat of an eponymous former princely state of central India, in the Bundelkhand region.
Upon arrival check in at hotel. Afternoon leave for visit city/ temple tour of Orchha.
Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 11: Orchha/ Khajuraho (180 kms)
Morning breakfast at hotel and 0900 hrs drive to Khajuraho.
Khajuraho is famous for its temple structures and most them have been declared “UNESCO –World Heritage Monuments”. These temples depict the generous and artistic creativity towards the kings of Chandela dynasty having ruled in the central India around 1000 AD. Out of the total 85 temples only 22 have survived till now and are divided as Eastern , Western and Southern Group of temples.
Upon arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure or free for independent activities. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 12: Khajuraho
Morning breakfast at hotel and 0900 hrs leave for full day city tour of Khajuraho. Visiting the Western and the Eastern group of Temples.
Rest of the day at leisure or free for independent activities. Overnight stay in Hotel.
Day 13: Khajuraho/ Varanasi (By afternoon flight)
Morning breakfast at hotel and in time transfer to airport to board the flight for Varanasi. Upon arrival in Varanasi airport and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon leave for Sarnath, ten kms north of Varanasi where the Buddha preached his first sermon and first organized an order of monks, the sangha. Among the excavated buildings are monasteries, shrines and the foundation stupas.
Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 14: Varanasi
Early morning leave for boat ride in the river Ganges to apprise you of the various Hindu rituals taking place at the bathing ghats, also witness the wonderful sunrise from the river Ganges. Thereafter come back to hotel for breakfast.
Afternoon leave for temple/ city tour of Varanasi, about 2,000 odd temples along the banks of the Ganges at Varanasi and bathe in the river. The temples in Benares is the goal of the thousands of pilgrims that visit this ancient pilgrimage site. Visit the Bharat Mata temple, the exteriors of Vishwanath temple and the Durga temple in the holy city of Varanasi.
Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 15: Varanasi – Delhi - Departure
Morning breakfast at hotel and in time transfer to airport to board your flight for Delhi to connect international flight for your onward destination.
........End of The Tour & Let the pleasant memories of the past days linger on your mind for a long, long time.........
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